I'm curious: do your passions and hobbies — seemingly unconnected to your career — give you an unexpected professional edge?

Growing up, Mona loved nothing more than donning her dad's old headphones and immersing herself in his record collection for hours. She had a deep affection for the arts, theatre, and the craft of writing.

Nevertheless, she decided to pursue a career as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Fortunately, for the business world, she infuses her creative gifts in every room she enters, whether it be…

Negotiating multi-million dollar merger and acquisition deals.

Serving as CFO and COO for Knix Wear — an incredible Canadian success story.

And today, as a Partner with the Thrive Venture Fund at BDC, she plays a vital role in the $300M Fund, which invests in women-led technology companies tackling some of the world's most pressing issues.

Learn how your creative edge and unique skills can help you approach problems differently and offer new perspectives.

This episode is for you if:

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LinkedIn – Mona Minhas

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LinkedIn – BDC Capital (Canada)

Twitter – @bdc_capital

This episode is brought to you in collaboration with Invest Ottawa, Ottawa’s lead economic development agency for knowledge-based industries, and with the critical support of BDC Capital’s Thrive Venture Fund, the title sponsor of International Women’s Month. We teamed up to produce this special series to celebrate women leading in Ottawa for International Women’s Month.

In support of its Women Founders and Owners strategy, Invest Ottawa offers programs and services that enable and accelerate the growth and success of women entrepreneurs from every walk of life. Visit www.investottawa.ca/women to learn more!

When you plant a seed, you wait to reap the benefits.

In some cases, you don't see it for years. But does that mean you shouldn't plant that seed? ⁠Jennifer⁠ disagrees.

From her teenage years juggling multiple part-time jobs to studying accounting— though not her passion—it provided the exposure and access to creativity she lived for. At 18, she worked at the Biological Sciences Institute, immersing herself in labs with passionate scientists and researchers. Her curiosity drove her to continue learning despite understanding only a tiny fraction of their work.

Today, Jennifer, CEO, and Co-founder Geoff MacKay are building ⁠The Aggressive Good⁠, a technology solution that revolutionizes how people stock their pantries. Their goal? Eliminate single-use plastic packaging.

Jennifer is ideating and building for the long term, focused on advancing humanity and caring for our planet. 

Here's how she keeps her 'why' at the center.

This episode is for you if:

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This episode is brought to you in collaboration with⁠⁠⁠⁠ Invest Ottawa⁠⁠⁠⁠, Ottawa’s lead economic development agency for knowledge-based industries, and with the critical support of BDC Capital’s Thrive Venture Fund, the title sponsor of International Women’s Month.

We teamed up to produce this special series to celebrate women leading in Ottawa for⁠⁠⁠⁠ International Women’s Month⁠⁠⁠⁠. In support of its Women Founders and Owners strategy, Invest Ottawa offers programs and services that enable and accelerate the growth and success of women entrepreneurs from every walk of life. Visit⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.investottawa.ca/women⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more!

“Never give up on yourself” – These were the words Angela Ashawasegai repeated to herself for years. They became her mantra, helping her find and build her inner strength.

Angela was removed from her mother at birth and was placed into the child welfare system. Throughout her tumultuous childhood, she had no safe place to call home. From surviving abuse and homelessness, Angela emerged as her hero, crediting her survival to education, spirituality, and art.

Today, Angela leverages her decades of training and expertise to help others empower themselves. She consults with organizations on workplace wellness, puts pen to paper on her forthcoming book, and coaches individuals on overcoming their trauma. 

Here is how she identified her inner strength and resilience in adversity. This episode is for you if: You want to reclaim your identity in the face of adversity. You’re looking for practical insights to navigate your own healing journey and empower others in their journey. You want to explore how creativity can be a tool for resilience.

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This episode is brought to you in collaboration with⁠⁠⁠⁠ Invest Ottawa⁠⁠⁠⁠, Ottawa’s lead economic development agency for knowledge-based industries, and with the critical support of BDC Capital’s Thrive Venture Fund, the title sponsor of International Women’s Month. We teamed up to produce this special series to celebrate women leading in Ottawa for⁠⁠⁠⁠ International Women’s Month⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In support of its Women Founders and Owners strategy, Invest Ottawa offers programs and services that enable and accelerate the growth and success of women entrepreneurs from every walk of life. Visit⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.investottawa.ca/women⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn more!

In a landscape where barriers often overshadow opportunities…

Mary Yazdani is curious about impactful results.

Drawing insights from those who have successfully carved paths before her, she studied their strategies and implemented the advice that worked. At the age of 32, she started a new life in Canada with her family.

Leveraging her expertise and resourcefulness in navigating unfamiliar terrain, she established a business aimed at propelling others.

Leading two innovative ventures – as the Founder and CEO of GenesisLink and Co-founder and CEO of RoboSafety –  Mary is committed to empowering individuals to navigate the complexities of transitioning to a new country, securing employment, and launching businesses.

This episode is for you if:

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This episode is brought to you in collaboration with⁠⁠⁠ Invest Ottawa⁠⁠⁠, Ottawa’s lead economic development agency for knowledge-based industries, and with the critical support of BDC Capital’s Thrive Venture Fund, the title sponsor of International Women’s Month. We teamed up to produce this special series to celebrate women leading in Ottawa for⁠⁠⁠ International Women’s Month⁠⁠⁠.

In support of its Women Founders and Owners strategy, Invest Ottawa offers programs and services that enable and accelerate the growth and success of women entrepreneurs from every walk of life. Visit⁠⁠⁠ www.investottawa.ca/women⁠⁠⁠ to learn more!

Relationships are key. Through experience, you've sharpened your problem-solving skills, infused love into your creative self, and deepened your leadership acumen. Yet, these strengths may not always be apparent on paper…

It's about transforming your most vital skills to your next opportunity.

Keira Torkko⁠ has consistently demonstrated this throughout her 25-year career across various sectors. When Keira least expected it, her relationships enabled her to navigate unconventional career paths and build a compelling narrative. How can you create your own non-traditional and extraordinary opportunities? Keira shares insights on where to begin.

This episode is for you if:

People and Resources Mentioned in This Episode

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This episode is brought to you in collaboration with⁠⁠ Invest Ottawa⁠⁠, Ottawa’s lead economic development agency for knowledge-based industries, and with the critical support of BDC Capital’s Thrive Venture Fund, the title sponsor of International Women’s Month. We teamed up to produce this special series to celebrate women leading in Ottawa for⁠⁠ International Women’s Month⁠⁠.

In support of its Women Founders and Owners strategy, Invest Ottawa offers programs and services that enable and accelerate the growth and success of women entrepreneurs from every walk of life. Visit⁠⁠ www.investottawa.ca/women⁠⁠ to learn more!

Recognized as a “fixer” in the business world, ⁠Susan Odle⁠ has played a significant role in the lives of leaders grappling with complex problems through hands-on transformational change. How? By adopting the Successful Change Mindset. With a gift of discerning patterns in a business and amplifying what works, Susan’s latest entrepreneurial venture, ⁠8020CS⁠, and book, ⁠Successful Change⁠, are examples of her mission in action.

Leading global channel teams, holding VP of Operations roles, working with PE teams in the U.S., navigating multiple M&A events, founding three advisory agencies, raising her daughter as a solo mom…

Here’s how she earned the moniker of “fixer” and never lost her self-belief. 

This episode is for you if:

People and Resources Mentioned in This Episode

Connect with Susan

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 Connect with Naomi

This episode is brought to you in collaboration with⁠ Invest Ottawa⁠, Ottawa’s lead economic development agency for knowledge-based industries, and with the critical support of BDC Capital’s Thrive Venture Fund, the title sponsor of International Women’s Month. We teamed up to produce this special series to celebrate women leading in Ottawa for⁠ International Women’s Month⁠.

In support of its Women Founders and Owners strategy, Invest Ottawa offers programs and services that enable and accelerate the growth and success of women entrepreneurs from every walk of life. Visit⁠ www.investottawa.ca/women⁠ to learn more!

Joanna Cooper began playing the cello in fourth grade, started reading at the age of two, perhaps her journey was destined to be great, as she curiously embraced intelligence of different forms.

Today, Joanna is Daimler Truck North America's General Manager in Mount Holly. She leads an amazing team of over 1,700 staff to produce Freightliner M2 and SD Plus medium-duty trucks.

As a transformative leader, Joanna serves a board member of the Women in Manufacturing Association, contributing to the evolution of executive leadership and business culture in her field and beyond. Her impact extends to being a featured speaker at Reuters Automotive Retail 2023 and a keynote and panel moderator at FABx at Fabtech 2023.

Recognized by publications such as Forbes,  Chief, Authority Magazine, SHRM, Joanna shares her expertise on workforce development and digital transformation, offering valuable insights for leaders who are looking to move into more sustainable business solutions.

Earning an MBA and bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Detroit Mercy, Joanna is a leader to watch in the manufacturing industry and a possibility model for young people who are looking to make their mark.

This episode is for you if:

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Daniel P. Calderon, Brooklyn native, holds the roles of President of Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow (EOT) and owner of #WFHStudio.

As Daniel beautifully states, "When one is able to create space, whether virtual or in real life, they are, in fact, catalyzing creativity, which I believe leads to real solutions. That's what I want my life's work to be about."

Through Daniel’s illustrious career and life journey, he has identified challenges as opportunities, leveraging his experience and knowledge to offer new approaches. With over a decade of experience in leadership roles at Fortune 500 giants such as Target and Amazon, he has played a pivotal role in crafting internal policies, succession plans, and employee development programs, nurturing the growth of thousands of employees and leaders.

Daniel took his brilliance and launched #WFHStudio and Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow. EOT is dedicated to teaching at-promise Black and brown students to solve problems through entrepreneurship and innovation. At #WFHStudio, Daniel and a roster of master creatives produce and direct various design projects, films, and global campaigns.

What I admire about Daniel is his service-oriented mindset and unwavering perseverance. Life’s path is rarely linear, yet his ability to lead through complexity, champion useful ideas to the forefront, and rally brilliant minds around his initiatives is truly commendable. 

This episode is for you if:

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Adeola Adejobi moves mountains and touches hearts with

As a multi-faceted human being, Adeola is an attorney, entrepreneur, speaker. She is also the visionary founder and CEO of Avant-Garde Network, a social impact company dedicated to equipping entrepreneurs and executives from diverse backgrounds with the essential skills and knowledge to advance as leaders in their own businesses or within the corporate landscape.

Adeola’s academic journey, from Spellman College and later pursuing her Juris Doctorate at Cornell University (specializing in International Legal Affairs), has laid the foundation for her impactful career. Adeola went on to forge intentional relationships and continue to be a resource to those in her network.

This episode is for you if:

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What ever happened to job security?

From the Great Resignation to mass layoffs, workers are struggling to find their fit in this ever-changing market. 

To succeed, shift gears.

Focusing not on your next job but your career instead, you’ll gain the skills, network and experience to reach your most audacious goals — no matter where you work. 

Certified Career Coach, Resume Strategist, Founder of WeApply and one of Canada’s Top 100 Black Women to Watch, Lissa Appiah shares how.

This episode is for you if:

Looking for a specific gem?

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